Washington liens can include mortgages or deeds of trust, property tax liens, judgment liens, construction or mechanics liens, and UCC financing statements involving personal property. The lien type determines which property is affected, how priority is determined, and how long the claim may remain effective.
Note: Every lien in Washington may have different deadlines and processes. Read our guide below, verified for accuracy by local lien specialists. Updated August 2026.
A lien is a claim against property that helps secure payment of an obligation. Depending on the lien type, it may affect real estate, vehicles, equipment, inventory, accounts, or other property.
A lien does not necessarily mean that the property will be sold. It means there may be a recorded or legally recognized claim that can affect ownership, title, financing, sale proceeds, or collection options.
| Lien Type | What It Generally Secures | What It May Affect | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage or deed of trust | A real-estate loan | The financed real property | A voluntary lien commonly used in property financing |
| Property-tax lien | Unpaid property taxes or certain assessments | Real property and, in some cases, personal property | Generally receives statutory priority over other charges |
| Judgment lien | A qualifying court judgment | A debtor’s qualifying nonexempt real estate | Different from a construction lien because it follows a court judgment |
| UCC financing statement | A security interest in personal property | Equipment, inventory, accounts, fixtures, or other business collateral | Usually not a lien against real estate |
| Construction/mechanics lien | Qualifying unpaid construction work, services, materials, or equipment | The improved real property | Has Washington-specific recording and enforcement requirements |
This is not a complete list of every statutory lien that may exist in Washington. Specialized liens can arise from employment, storage, health care, condominium assessments, government obligations, and other transactions.
A mortgage or deed of trust is a voluntary lien that secures repayment of a real-estate loan.
A property-tax lien is a statutory claim connected to unpaid property taxes or certain assessments.
A judgment lien is a claim that may attach to a debtor’s qualifying real estate after a court enters a money judgment.
A UCC financing statement is a public filing that can help perfect a creditor’s security interest in a debtor’s personal property.
A Washington mechanics lien is a claim that may secure payment for qualifying labor, professional services, materials, or equipment furnished for an improvement to real property. It is the lien type most relevant to contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and equipment providers involved in unpaid construction projects.
A mechanics lien is not a general debt-collection claim against the customer’s assets. It is connected to the improved property and must follow Washington’s statutory timing and content requirements.
After recording, the claimant must give the owner or reputed owner a copy of the claim by certified mail, registered mail, or personal service within 14 days. Failing to do so can affect the claimant’s ability to recover attorneys’ fees and costs from the owner.
For complete mechanics-lien filing steps, read our guide: How to File a Mechanics Lien in Washington.
The duration of a lien in Washington depends on the lien type. There is no single expiration period that applies to mortgages, tax liens, judgment liens, UCC filings, and construction liens alike.
| Lien Type | General Timing Point | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage or deed of trust | Usually remains until the secured debt is paid, released, reconveyed, refinanced, or otherwise resolved | Loan status and county recording history |
| Property-tax lien | Timing and collection procedures can depend on the tax type, delinquency status, county process, and applicable law | County treasurer records for the specific parcel |
| Judgment lien | Generally up to 10 years from judgment entry, subject to extension rules and exceptions | Judgment date, court records, property location, and extension history |
| UCC financing statement | Generally effective for five years, subject to exceptions and continuation rules | Filing type, debtor name, lapse date, and continuation records |
| Construction/mechanics lien | Generally record within 90 days after ceasing to furnish qualifying work or materials; enforcement has a separate deadline | Last furnishing date, recording date, project facts, and enforcement calendar |
A Washington mechanic’s lien’s 90-day recording deadline differs from its enforcement deadline. A recorded construction lien generally does not bind the property for more than 8 calendar months after recording, unless the claimant timely files an enforcement action and serves the owner within the statutory period. See RCW 60.04.091 and RCW 60.04.141 for more details.
Property-tax liens generally have the highest statutory priority among the lien types discussed in this guide. Washington law generally provides that property-tax liens must be paid before mortgages, judgments, debts, obligations, and other charges against the property, subject to statutory exceptions.
A Washington construction lien may be prior to a lien, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance that attached after—or was unrecorded when—the claimant began furnishing labor or professional services, or first delivered materials or equipment. See RCW 60.04.061.
A construction lien does not automatically take priority over every mortgage or recorded property interest. Priority can depend on the construction timeline, the date another interest attached or was recorded, the type of claim, statutory exceptions, and the property record.
Do not decide that a lien has first priority based solely on its recording date. Review the county records, project timeline, and all recorded interests.
A mortgage or deed-of-trust lien is commonly associated with financed real property, but there is no statewide ranking published in Washington that identifies the most common lien on every property. A specific parcel may also have property-tax liens, judgment liens, construction liens, homeowner-association claims, or other recorded interests. Check county records and, when appropriate, title information to identify liens affecting a particular property.
A lien is a claim against property that may secure payment of an obligation, while a judgment is a court’s decision resolving a dispute or awarding money. A judgment may create or support a judgment lien against qualifying real estate, depending on Washington’s rules and the property facts. A mechanics lien is different because it may arise from qualifying unpaid construction work rather than from a prior court judgment.
No. The 90-day period generally applies to recording a Washington claim of lien after the claimant stops furnishing qualifying labor, professional services, materials, or equipment. After recording, the lien generally remains binding for no longer than eight calendar months unless the claimant files a timely enforcement action and serves the owner within the required period.
Sometimes, but not automatically. A construction lien may be prior to an interest that attached after—or was unrecorded when—the claimant began furnishing qualifying labor or professional services, or first delivered materials or equipment. Earlier recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, statutory rules, and project-specific facts can affect the result.
A Washington claim of lien is generally recorded in the county where the subject property is located. The claim generally must be recorded within 90 days after the claimant stops furnishing qualifying labor, professional services, materials, or equipment. The recorded claim must contain required project, property, party, date, and amount information.
Yes. A lien can generally be released after the underlying obligation is resolved, but the appropriate release document and procedure depend on the lien type and circumstances. For a recorded construction lien, parties should document payment terms and confirm that any release is correctly completed and recorded when appropriate. Verify the public record rather than relying only on an informal assurance that a lien was cleared.
The cost to file a lien in Washington varies by county and services used. For Washington mechanics lien filing with Northwest Lien, it’s $529 (check our current pricing list). Our price includes a title search, drafting the lien, online notarized signing, county recording fees, and certified mailing to the property owner. We also provide rush lien services. Check with the local county auditor for current fees before filing, as charges may change.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Mechanics lien laws are complex and vary by jurisdiction. For specific legal guidance regarding your situation, please consult with a qualified local attorney.
